BILL NUMBER: AB 303	CHAPTERED  09/27/00

	CHAPTER   708
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 27, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 25, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 31, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 30, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 29, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 14, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JUNE 22, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 16, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JULY 13, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JUNE 22, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 28, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 7, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MARCH 17, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Thomson
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Dickerson, Machado, Margett, Papan,
and Wayne)

                        FEBRUARY 8, 1999

   An act to amend Section 10750 of, and to add Part 2.78 (commencing
with Section 10795) to Division 6 of, the Water Code, relating to
water.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 303, Thomson.  Groundwater.
   Existing law declares that groundwater is a valuable natural
resource in the state and should be managed to ensure its safe
production and its quality.  Existing law authorizes specified local
agencies to adopt and implement groundwater management plans pursuant
to specified provisions.
   This bill would declare that additional study of groundwater
resources is necessary to better understand how to manage groundwater
effectively to ensure the safe production, quality, and proper
storage of groundwater in the state.
   The bill would enact the Local Groundwater Management Assistance
Act of 2000.  The bill would create the Local Groundwater Assistance
Fund.  The bill would authorize the money in the fund, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, to be used by the Department of
Water Resources to assist local public agencies by awarding grants to
those agencies to conduct groundwater studies, or to carry out
groundwater monitoring and management activities, or both.  The bill
would require the department to award grants based on the
recommendations of a Technical Advisory Panel, the members of which
would be required to be appointed by the Secretary of the Resources
Agency.  The bill would authorize the department to enter into
contracts and to adopt regulations approved by the panel to carry out
the grant program.
   The bill would require the department to use prescribed funds
appropriated in the Budget Act of 2000 for the purposes of the grant
program, as specified.
   The bill would make a related finding and declaration.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 10750 of the Water Code is amended to read:
   10750.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares that groundwater is
a valuable natural resource in California, and should be managed to
ensure both its safe production and its quality.  It is the intent of
the Legislature to encourage local agencies to work cooperatively to
manage groundwater resources within their jurisdictions.
   (b) The Legislature also finds and declares that additional study
of groundwater resources is necessary to better understand how to
manage groundwater effectively to ensure the safe production,
quality, and proper storage of groundwater in this state.
  SEC. 2.  Part 2.78 (commencing with Section 10795) is added to
Division 6 of the Water Code, to read:

      PART 2.78.  LOCAL GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2000


   10795.  This part shall be known and may be cited as the Local
Groundwater Management Assistance Act of 2000.
   10795.2.  There is hereby created the Local Groundwater Assistance
Fund which shall be administered by the department.
   10795.4.  Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the money in the
fund may be used by the department to assist local public agencies by
awarding grants to those agencies to conduct groundwater studies or
to carry out groundwater monitoring and management activities in
accordance with Part 2.75 (commencing with Section 10750) or other
authority pursuant to which local public agencies manage groundwater
resources, or both.
   10795.6.  The department, in making grants pursuant to this part,
shall do both of the following:
   (a) Award grants based on the recommendations submitted by the
Technical Advisory Panel.  The panel shall give priority to a local
public agency that has adopted a groundwater management plan and
submitted an application that demonstrates collaboration by that
local public agency with other local public agencies with regard to
the management of the affected groundwater basin.
   (b) Ensure that the money in the fund is allocated in a
geographically balanced manner among the regions of the state that
are capable of, and interested in, implementing groundwater
management programs.
   10795.8.  The department may enter into contracts and may adopt
regulations subject to the advice and review of the Technical
Advisory Panel, to carry out this part.  Any grant contract entered
into pursuant to this part may include provisions that the department
determines are necessary.
   10795.10.  An application for a grant under this part shall be
made to the department in the form and with the supporting materials
prescribed by the department.
   10795.12.  (a) A Technical Advisory Panel shall review
applications for grants based on criteria developed by the panel.
   (b) The Technical Advisory Panel shall review applications and
indicate whether, in its opinion, an application should be given
priority pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 10795.6, and
may place conditions on its recommendation for the funding of a
specific project.  These conditions may include requirements for
additional clarification or further explanation of certain aspects of
the project.
   10795.14.  (a) The Technical Advisory Panel shall be comprised of
individuals appointed by the Secretary of the Resources Agency.
   (b) (1) Panelists shall have background experience, or general
knowledge, in the area of groundwater resources.
   (2) Panelists shall include all of the following:
   (A) At least three individuals who currently serve on the board of
directors of a local public agency that has adopted a groundwater
management plan.
   (B) A licensed civil engineer.
   (C) A licensed geologist.
   (D) A licensed hydrogeologist.
   (E) At least one individual representing each of the hydrologic
study areas shown in Figure 3 of the department's Bulletin 118-80,
entitled "Ground Water Basins in California:  A Report to the
Legislature in Response to Water Code Section 12924."
   (c) The number of individuals serving on the Technical Advisory
Panel shall be determined by the Secretary of the Resources Agency.
   10795.16.  (a) If a member of the Technical Advisory Panel, or a
member of his or her immediate family, is employed by a grant
applicant , the employer of a grant applicant, or a consultant or
independent contractor employed by a grant applicant, the panel
member shall make that disclosure to the other members of the panel
and shall not participate in the review of the grant application of
that applicant.
   (b) The Technical Advisory Panel shall operate on principles of
collaboration.  Panelists shall be appointed who are committed to
working together with other interests for the long-term benefit of
California groundwater resources and the people who rely on those
resources.
   (c) Panelists shall be residents of the state and have an interest
in the preservation, protection, and enhancement of the state's
groundwater resources.
   (d) Panelists shall not be employees of any state or federal
agency.
   10795.19.  A local public agency receiving a grant under this part
shall submit to the department copies of all data collected pursuant
to the grant.
   10795.20.  Federal funds may be used for the purposes of this
part.
  SEC. 3.  (a) Of the funds appropriated in Provision 8 of Item
3860-001-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2000 (Chapter 52
of the Statutes of 2000), the Department of Water Resources shall use
five million dollars ($5,000,000) for the purposes of Part 2.78
(commencing with Section 10795) of Division 6 of the Water Code.  Of
that amount, not more than two hundred twenty thousand dollars
($220,000) may be used to defray administrative costs.
   (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the Department of Water
Resources may not expend the funds specified in that subdivision
unless and until the expenditure condition set forth in Provision 8
of Item 3860-001-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2000
(Chapter 52 of the Statutes of 2000) is satisfied.
